Former Badger Aaron Stecker had long career despite being undrafted

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Aaron Stecker, who this month decided to retire from the National Football League, can claim membership in a football fraternity that's somewhat unusual.

Stecker, the running back and kick returner from Ashwaubenon, was an undrafted free agent who went on to have a long career in the NFL. Stecker, 34, played for three teams in 11 years in the league: Tampa Bay (5), New Orleans (5) and Atlanta (1).

So Stecker is in the company of the likes of Emlen Tunnell, Willie Wood, Warren Moon, John Randle,Dave Krieg and Kurt Warner - all players who were not drafted but had double-digit years of play in the league.

And although Stecker's career is not one you would put on a level with those Pro Bowl or Hall of Fame guys, he does have a Super Bowl ring (XXXVII), something not all undrafted superstars have.

A star in high school, Stecker went to Wisconsin for two seasons but left in 1996 after Ron Dayne emerged as the featured back. Stecker transferred to Western Illinois. (He called Northern Iowa first, but the coaches were out for Christmas). He became Western Illinois' all-time rusher, a mark later broken. At the 1999 NFL combine he ran the 40 in 4.8, when the average for running backs was 4.6.

Stecker joined the Chicago Bears in training camp but did not catch on with them. He later joined the Tampa Bay practice squad in '99. In 2000 he played for the Scottish Claymores in NFL Europe. In that same year, he went on to play 10 games for the Buccaneers.

Stecker, who lives in Middleton, said Wednesday during a phone interview he never thought about giving up.

"Actually, I really didn't have that type of moment," Stecker said. "For a while, after I was released by Chicago, I was at home for a few weeks. I was thinking, 'I had a chance.' I just kept thinking if I got another chance I'd make the most of the opportunity. In Chicago, I didn't take full advantage of the situation."

Stecker said getting cut by the Bears opened his eyes. He told himself the next time he got a chance he wouldn't let it slip away.

He credits a veteran running back and special teams player in Tampa Bay at the time, Fred McAfee, for offering encouragement and bolstering his confidence. The two became friends.

"I always tried to do what the coaches asked of me," Stecker said. "I would have liked to have carried the ball 20 or 25 times (a game), but that wasn't left for me. To make it in the league, I was going to have to do a lot of other things and just carry the ball five times and catch the ball five times, play special teams, make a tackle. I learned very early that I had to do a lot of things if I wanted to last a long time."

Stecker played for some very good coaches in his career, including Tony Dungy (three years), Jon Gruden (two years) and Sean Payton (three years).

He was in Tampa Bay in 2002 when Dungy left, Gruden arrived and the team won a championship. At the time the Buccaneers had a first-rate defense, but an inconsistent offense.

"Coach Dungy is a terrific coach and a terrific person," Stecker said. "He treats everybody fairly. He talks to everybody, not just about football but about life, family. Treats everybody with respect. He let his coaches coach more. He was more like an overseer. Never yelled at a player. Never got angry. Never showed he was frustrated."

Gruden was totally opposite.

"He is fiery, very emotional," Stecker said about Gruden. "He'll tell you like it is. If he sees something he doesn't like, he'll let you know. He is not worried about hurting anybody's feelings. He's very enthusiastic, very energetic, into it. Very knowledgeable. They are definitely night and day."

Stecker said Dungy let his offensive coordinator handle the game planning in meetings, while Gruden would handle the offensive game planning in meetings.

"Coach Dungy would come to the (offensive) meetings, watch and take notes, then leave to look in on the defensive room," Stecker said. "Gruden, he stays in that offensive meeting. He's the one talking. He's the one telling you what we had to do, this is the play. Offense was very much his baby."

Payton is very much like Gruden, Stecker said, in his role running the offense.

"He's the one doing all the install," Stecker said about Payton. "He's the one standing in the meeting. He's the one doing all the corrections. They are similar in that aspect."

Stecker noted that Gruden and Payton are friends, that both of them are experts at handling offenses.

"They are on the same plane that way," Stecker said. "But Gruden is just different. He says what's in his head, sometimes not thinking of what he's saying. Whereas coach Payton is thinking about what he is saying. He chooses his words wisely. But as far as coaching they were about the same - taking control of the offense."

Stecker said does not know what the next stage in his life holds. He is married, has two children and plans to remain in Middleton.